'Women often don’t know how to ask for higher wages': Czechia's pay gap problem persists

March 6 marked this year’s Equal Pay Day a symbolic date that highlights the persistent gender pay gap in the Czech Republic. This year, women have to work 65 extra days to earn the same amount as men, according to the The Business & Professional Women CR (BPWCR) organization.

While the gender pay gap has narrowed slightly in recent decades, it remains a significant issue, with Czech women earning, on average, 17.1 percent less than men in the same positions. After a multi-year reduction, the gap reached its lowest point of 15 percent in 2021, but it has since started to rise again, with this year's figures showing a slight increase from 17.4 percent last year.

The Czech Republic’s pay gap has remained persistently high compared to the European Union average, where the GPG stands at 13 percent. Among 33 countries surveyed by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Czech women rank 23rd in terms of labor market equality, a position that has deteriorated in recent years.

Nordic countries and Slovenia traditionally top the rankings, with legislation supporting shared parental leave and a one-year parental leave period.

While women in Czechia are increasingly achieving higher education, the pay gap remains stubbornly wide, particularly among university graduates. In fact, educated women face the greatest earnings disparity, with university-educated women earning significantly less than equally educated men.

The gap is most pronounced between the ages of 35 and 44, averaging 22 percent. This is largely due to the career interruptions many women face for maternity leave and the challenges of returning to the workforce afterward.

“There are systemic obstacles that women face in the labor market, including insufficient access to flexible work options, limited support for career advancement, and inadequate childcare services,” said Andrea Linhartová Palánová from PwC, told Novinky.cz “These factors make it more difficult for women to compete on equal footing.”

According to research from Eurostat, the Czech Republic ranks third in the EU for wage inequality, with women earning 18 percent less than men on average. The pay gap extends beyond salaries, affecting pensions as well. Women’s pensions are, on average, 30 percent lower than those of men, reflecting the long-term financial disadvantage they face due to lower lifetime earnings.

One key area for improvement is the lack of transparency in remuneration systems. Companies in the Czech Republic are not required to disclose salary ranges, making it difficult for women to negotiate fair wages or know if they are being paid equitably for the same work.

The upcoming European directive, expected to take effect in mid-2026, will require employers to disclose salary information to job applicants, a step that could help reduce wage disparities.

“Women often don’t know how to ask for higher wages or what their male counterparts are earning. Greater salary transparency will help address this,” Jaroslava Rezlerová from ManpowerGroup told Novinky. “Employers also need to create more flexible work environments and offer better career development opportunities for women, particularly those returning from parental leave.”

The introduction of part-time positions and job-sharing opportunities could provide women with more opportunities to stay in the workforce and advance their careers after having children. However, the use of part-time work in the Czech Republic remains lower than the EU average, which exacerbates the pay gap for women.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs’ Equal Pay project has been a significant step toward addressing pay inequality in the Czech Republic. The project offers tools and advisory services to businesses looking to measure and close the gender pay gap. A fair salary calculator is available to help employees assess potential pay disparities based on job characteristics and personal factors.

Despite these efforts, there is still much work to be done. The BPWCR, a prominent organization raising awareness about the gender pay gap in the Czech Republic, has long advocated for systemic changes to ensure equal pay for equal work. “The goal is to achieve zero pay disparity and equal representation of women in decision-making roles,” said the BPWCR’s spokesperson.

The organization will participate as an expert partner in the Equal Pay Day 2025 conference, where key discussions will focus on closing the gender pay gap and achieving gender parity in the workplace. The conference, which will take place in Prague on March 25-26, 2025, aims to raise awareness and facilitate discussions on policies and practices that can help reduce pay inequality.